summary biodiversity plan - request licencing … · 2015-05-14 · biodiversity plan for kangaroo...

for Kangaroo Is land

South Australia

2001

Biodiversity PlanNa

tiona

l Parks & Wildlife

South Australia

S U M M A R Y

D E PA R T M E N T F O R

environmentand heritage

Biodiversity Plan for K a n g a r o o I s l a n d , S o u t h A u s t r a l i a – Summary 3

Foreword

In 1997 the South Australian Government established a RegionalBiodiversity Planning Program to guide the conservation, managementand rehabilitation of habitats at a Regional level. This program hasbeen greatly assisted by the Commonwealth Government through theNatural Heritage Trust Bushcare program.

The conservation of our indigenous biodiversity is essential for thecontinued functioning of natural systems and Regional BiodiversityPlans provide a strategic approach to the conservation andmanagement of biodiversity as well as a framework for integration ofbiodiversity conservation with other Regional natural resourcemanagement issues. The plans are intended to guide priority on-ground actions and can be used by government agencies involved inmanaging public lands, Local Government, private landholders andindividuals and community groups interested in the conservation ofbiodiversity within the region.

The Biodiversity Plan for Kangaroo Island is the third of a series ofplans that are being prepared for the State.

Kangaroo Island is South Australia’s largest island encompassing over440,000 hectares and has the highest proportion of native vegetationremaining of all the agricultural regions. With vegetation coveringnearly half of the island it has a wide diversity of habitats andabundant wildlife, with many of the plant and animal species foundthere being unique to the island. Because of its outstandingbiodiversity values Kangaroo Island is also a favourite touristdestination.

Kangaroo Island provides an ideal opportunity to demonstrate howconservation of biodiversity can be balanced with economicdevelopment. In recognition of this, the State Government hasannounced that it will undertake a public consultation process aboutnominating parts of the island to become a Biosphere Reserve underthe UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program. The Biodiversity Planfor Kangaroo Island will assist this process and provide guidance forthe ecologically sustainable management of the region by focussingon the priority issues for the conservation and management of theflora and fauna.

The Biodiversity Plan for Kangaroo Island has been developed jointlyby National Parks and Wildlife SA and Planning SA together with thecommunity. I believe it will provide a valuable resource supporting theconservation of the biodiversity of the region and assist in achieving asustainable future for the Island.

Hon Iain Evans MPMinister for Environment and Heritage

4 Biodiversity Plan for K a n g a r o o I s l a n d , S o u t h A u s t r a l i a – Summary

Biodiversity

What is it?

Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety of all living thingsand includes the ecosystems of which they are a part.

• Plants • Fish

• Mammals • Invertebrate animals

• Birds • Aquatic fauna

• Reptiles • Microorganisms

• Frogs • Fungi

Biodiversity varies with climate, soil, geomorphology andgeological history.

Why is it important?

We all depend on biodiversity. Biodiversity is the foundation forsustainable living. Five of our most important industries –agriculture, pastoralism, forestry, fisheries and tourism, as well asdaily life, rely on healthy functioning ecological processes andsystems. If we look after biodiversity, the land and water willsupport us.

Conservation of biodiversitynot only ensures our long termeconomic prosperity but alsoguarantees:

• clean air, soil and water

• maintenance of soil fertility, water sources and cycles

• breakdown of domestic, industrial and agricultural wastes

• control of pests, disease, soil erosion and salinity

• reduction of species loss resulting from habitat decline and land degradation.

Saltmarsh on the edge of Pelican Lagoon.

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Little pygmy-possum(Cercartetus lepidus)

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An example of a regionally threatened coastal white mallee (Eucalyptus diversifolia) community.

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Commitment to Maintaining Biodiversity

The South Australian Government is committed to achievingconservation of biodiversity and maintenance of ecologicalprocesses and systems in South Australia.

The Government is therefore intent on working with thecommunity and all levels of government to ensure:

• retention and restoration of existing native vegetation

• restoration of degraded areas, particularly threatened plantcommunities

• protective measures for threatened species

• control and eradication of pest plants and animals.

The Biodiversity Plan for Kangaroo Island has been developed toprovide a regional strategy for promoting conservation,restoration and management of the region’s biodiversity in thelong term.

The aims are to:

• provide a regional context for conservation

• provide guidance for management actions and programs for conservation

• increase community understanding and action

• provide a regional framework for assessing proposals and integrate with other natural resource management plans.


Kangaroo Island

Special attributes of Kangaroo Island include:

Landscape qualities

• lateritic plateau

• limestone plains and cliffs

• undulating central plains

• coastal dunes and

• coastal cliffs

Coastal qualities

• exposed southern coastline

• tall cliffs on northern coastline and

• sheltered eastern shores

Wetland qualities

• pristine inland lagoons

• small, ephemeral and perched swamps

• saline lagoons and

• rivers and drainage lines

Vegetation qualities

• largest percent remaining native vegetation of South Australian Biodiversity Planning Regions

• mallee – south coast, west coast & eastern areas

• woodland – lateritic plateau, north coast, rivers & drainage lines and

• highest plant endemism in South Australia

Biological qualities

• no rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) or foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

• species with populations more secure than on the mainland (e.g. bush stone-curlew) and

• unique place for many species.

Bush stone-curlew(Burhinus grallarius)

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South Australia

Kingscote

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Major Vegetation Types

The region’s major natural habitat areas include mallee andeucalypt woodlands.

Mallee

Major mallee species include:

• Kangaroo Island mallee-ash (Eucalyptus remota);

• coastal white mallee (Eucalyptus diversifolia); and

• Kangaroo Island narrow-leaf mallee (Eucalyptus cneorifolia).

These areas provide important habitat for species including:

• small-flower daisy-bush (Olearia microdisca) – a nationallyendangered species endemic to Kangaroo Island;

• enigma hakea (Hakea aenigma) – another Kangaroo Islandendemic; and

• little pygmy-possum (Cercartetus lepidus).

Woodlands

Major woodland species include:

• brown stringybark (Eucalyptus baxteri)

• sugar gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx)

• South Australian blue gum(Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp.leucoxylon).

These areas provide important habitatfor species including:

• nationally endangered southernbrown bandicoot (Isoodonobesulus)

• state vulnerable bush stone-curlew(Burhinus grallarius)

• pygmy copperhead (Austrelaps labialis).

Other important habitat types include wetland areas, coastal dunes, coastal cliffs and samphire flats.

Brown stringybark (Eucalyptusbaxteri) community in Parndana CP

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Pygmy copperhead (Austrelaps labialis)

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What was Kangaroo Island like originally?

At the time of European settlement, Kangaroo Island was acomplex mosaic of vegetation communities with extensive areasof mallee and woodland supporting a wide variety of plants andanimals.

The plateau regions seem to have been covered with a mosaic ofvery dense scrub and more open areas regenerating after fire.In November 1911 and April 1912, Captain S. A. White made abird watching expedition to Kangaroo Island, recording thefollowing information:

White was not the only person to comment on the dense scrub ofthe island:

The large Kangaroos of the island were noted:

It was the abundance of Kangaroos, providing quantities of freshmeat, that led the island to be named ‘Kangaroo Island’ byCaptain Matthew Flinders in 1802.

Grassdale lagoons inCape Bouguer WildernessProtection Area.

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…we headed for the south coast (from Kangaroo Lagoon).Friends at Kingscote had doubted whether we could force apassage through the dense scrub. At first we followed thedim trace of a track made by a survey party when bringingup stores from the coast, but that was soon lost, and weforced our way through a high and entangled scrub, havingto use the axe to help the conveyance out of difficulties. Attimes we emerged into more open country covered withyacca trees, but all the time we were graduallydescending…. we took a more south-westerly course … we at last came out upon more open ground,which at some time had been swept by fire. We traced thecourse of the river, marked by the dark foliage of the sugargums (White, 1913).

The surface of most of the island is covered by a densescrub. It is far more prickly and thorny than is known onthe mainland. Very fertile patches now make good farmand pasture lands, but most of such are on the north sideof the island facing the mainland (Pattison, 1942).

Although the land is poor in most places, a thick, luxuriousgrowth of trees and shrubs exists, owing to good rainfalland a mild climate. Some of the largest kangaroos everknown live here (Pattison, 1942).


Vegetation Types Before Clearance on Kangaroo Island, South Australia


Floristic Vegetation Mapping of South Australia – Kangaroo Island


What is Kangaroo Island like now?

Today native vegetation covers about 47% of Kangaroo Island,mainly in areas less suited to agriculture. For some vegetationtypes, the remaining native vegetation occurs mainly alongroadsides and as isolated patches in farmland. For example, theplant community ‘Kangaroo Island narrow-leaf mallee andKingscote mallee over sea-berry saltbush’ only occurs on roadsidesaround Emu Bay.

Approximately 15 species of plant and animal have becomeextinct on the island since Captain Matthew Flinders visited it in1802. These include:

• the endemic Kangaroo Island emu (Dromaius baudinianus);

• Wilson’s honey-myrtle (Melaleuca wilsonii);

• Kangaroo Island pennywort (Hydrocotyle diantha); and

• Brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa).

There are still large areas of thick scrub, as noted by Barritt(1984), in the otherwise serious report on wetlands on KangarooIsland:

It is essential that we properly manage the remaining habitats forthe species we still have.

Native Vegetation – 47%

Cropland/pasture with occassionallow density scattered trees – 51%

Lake/Swamp – <1%

Urban – <1%

Agro-forestry – <1%

Other (sand/cliff) – 1%

Other – 17%

HeritageAgreements – 4%

National Parks andWildlife Reserves – 26%

Archway Lagoon is close to the Playford Highway and canbe reached with only a short walk through the surroundingstringybark-heath. Drive to a point due north of the lagoonon the Playford Highway. A quick spray with some inch antrepellent, then don some light bushwalking gear includingyour inch thick bullet proof overalls (Acacia armata – nowcalled Acacia paradoxa) and armour plated gaiters (tigersnakes), grab a machine gun and several thousand roundsof ammunition (hordes of charging feral pigs), toss a coupleof tourniquets and some antivenene into your bag, anasbestos suit (bush-fires), and some cigarettes and salt(removing leaches), scribble a quick note saying whereyou’re going (search parties), and you’re on your way. Thenits only a matter of blundering about in impenetrable scrubfor a couple of hours (forgot your compass eh?) and you’rethere, or somewhere (remember to approach the lagoonquietly so as not to disturb the wildlife) (Barritt, 1984).


Loss of Native Vegetation • fragmentation of habitat

• loss of habitat (nesting sites and food sources)

• loss of nesting hollows

• loss of species

• disturbance and soil loss

Environmental Weeds: such as

• loss of vegetation

• degradation of land

• increasing water salinity

• changes to plant communities

• loss of species

Pathogens

(Phytophthora and Mundulla Yellows) • loss of habitat

• lack of regeneration

• loss of species

• changes to plant communities

Inappropriate Fire • loss of local animal and plant populations

• loss of species

• loss of habitat

Problem Animals • loss of small and ground-dwelling birds, reptilesand mammals to predators and competition

• prevention of regeneration of native plants

• grazing pressure in native vegetation

• changed aquatic environments

Industry • escape of industry species to native vegetation orwetlands

• chemical trespass

• impacts relating to direct use of native biodiversity.

Major Threat Threat leads to:

Bridal creepersmothering theunderstorey of aKangaroo Island narrow-leaf mallee community.

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Biodiversity and Kangaroo Island

To achieve conservation of biodiversity, we need to understandthe major management issues and work together to implementaction.

Threats to the Biodiversity of Kangaroo Island

• bridal creeper (Myrsiphyllum asparagoides)

• bridal veil (Myrsiphyllum declinatum)

• perennial veldt grass (Ehrharta calycina)

• soursob (Oxalis pes-caprae)

• phalaris (especially Phalaris aquatica)


Through implementing action, issues impacting biodiversity canbe reduced and wildlife habitats conserved.

Actions to Reduce Threats

• Retain existing vegetation

• Fence off trees to allow regeneration

• Plant buffers of trees and shrubs of localnative species

• Retain a mixed age structure in tree populations

• Keep paddock trees including dead trees and creekline trees

• Promote the regeneration of local species in paddocks by fencing off areas

• Appreciate the habitat value of isolated trees for birds, mammals and insects

• Eradicate weeds before they become an environmental problem

• Control and eradicate serious and widespread weeds

• Prevent introduction of new plant species to the island

• Consider planting local native species rather than introduced species for ornamental gardens

• Develop a weed management strategy for your property, starting with the least affected areas

• Precautions to prevent the human aidedspread of pathogens

• Monitor the spread of pathogens on the island

• Prevent the introduction of new pathogens to the island

• Enable recolonisation by plants and animals through protecting linkages and buffersbetween blocks of scrub and plant newlinkages

• Control problem across the district

• Joint campaigns to eradiate feral goats, feral pigs and feral deer

• Community based trapping programs for feral cats

• Prevent the introduction of newproblem animals to the island

• Ensure managed species do not escape andgo feral

• Prevent chemical tresspass through careful application

• Manage industry appropriately to prevent impacts on native biodiversity

• Contact local PIRSA or DEH staff for information on “environmentally friendly” techniques

Actions to reduce threats How you can help

• Become active in the control of the spread of pathogens, such as Phytophthora, by observing recommended hygiene practices

• Conduct revegetation in a strategic way so as to link blocks of vegetation on your property and on adjoining properties

• Conduct a coordinated control/eradication program with your neighbours for feral animals that have the most serious impacts, e.g. pigs, cats and deer

Recoverycycle

Remove threats

Retu

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Resto

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Retain

Recognise


Example of a Threatened Species onKangaroo Island

About 145 species of plants, mammals, birds and reptiles arethreatened, at least regionally, on Kangaroo Island. It is possibleto carry out actions to protect particular species, with theseactions often being of benefit to other species in the region.

Kangaroo Island phebalium (Leionema equestre)

The Kangaroo Island phebalium is a Kangaroo Island endemicspecies restricted to an area of about 10km2 between D’EstreesBay and Nepean Bay. At least eight of the sixteen knownpopulations occur on roadsides. This phebalium usually grows indeep sand in areas with a sparse or non-existent tree canopy. Ittakes about 8-9 years for seedlings of the Kangaroo Islandphebalium to mature enough to set seed.

Threats:

• Inappropriate disturbance regime

• Environmental weeds

• Grazing by stock

• Drift of agricultural chemicals into roadsidevegetation

Threats

Benefits:

• Protect and enhance habitat for other species of conservation significance,such as Kangaroo Islandturpentine bush (Beyeriasubtecta), rough spider-flower (Grevillea muricata)and small-leaf ray-flower(Cyphanthera myosotidea).

Benefits

Benefits:

• Ensure roadside populations are not disturbed at intervals greaterthan at least 9 years

• Removal of environmentalweeds, especially perennial veldtgrass (Ehrharta calycina) andbridal creeper (Myrsiphyllumasparagoides)

• Fence known populations fromstock

• Limit drift of agricultural chemicals through more carefulapplication and the inclusion ofbuffer zones in which spotspraying or other specifictechniques are used

Actions

Kangaroo Islandphebalium (Leionemaequestre)

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Kangaroo Island narrow-leaf mallee (Eucalyptuscneorifolia).

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Regionally Threatened Plant Communities

Agricultural development favoured areas of better agriculturalsoils and areas more readily cleared such as the grassy woodlandsand grasslands. It is these areas where the regionally threatenedplant communities are concentrated. On Kangaroo Island, thepreferential development of the Central Plains and the northernhalf of the Dudley Peninsula has produced a concentration ofregionally threatened plant communities in that area. Originallythe dominant overstorey species in that area was the KangarooIsland narrow-leaf mallee (Eucalyptus cneorifolia), and many ofthe regionally threatened plant communities have this species astheir primary species.

Kangaroo Island narrow-leaf mallee (Eucalyptus cneorifolia)

Kangaroo Island narrow-leaf mallee includes a number ofthreatened communities which originally occurred in the CentralPlains and northern Dudley Peninsula.

Benefits:

• Increase area of regionally threatened plant species, making them more viable in the long term

• Improved habitat for numerous plant species, including the Kangaroo Island endemic and nationally threatened species;small-flower daisy-bush (Oleariamicrodisca); and KangarooIsland turpentine bush (Beyeriasubtecta)

Benefits

Actions:

• Retain, restore and re-establish native vegetation through useof buffers, bulges, steppingstones and corridors

• Control or eradication of weeds

• Control of problem species

Actions

Threats:

• Very small fragmented areas remaining due to clearing for agriculture

• Weed invasion, such as bridal creeper (Myrsiphyllum asparagoides)

• Grazing by stock preventing regeneration, especially of understorey species

• Large numbers of native herbivores in some areas preventing regeneration, trampling and destroyingattempts to re-establish nativevegetation

Threats


Key Biodiversity Areas on Kangaroo Island

All areas of remnant native vegetation are important forconserving the island’s biodiversity. Three categories of KeyBiodiversity Areas have been identified. These are Large RemnantAreas, Fragmented Habitat Areas and Threatened Habitat Areas.The significance of these areas, threats and suggested actions areoutlined.

Large Remnant Areas

Large Remnant Areas have been identified on the basis that theycontain:

• predominantly large blocks of native vegetation

• species of high conservation significance

• biodiversity likely to approach that of pre-European settlement levels

• population sizes, for most species within these areas, are likely to be viable in the long term.

Two Large Remnant Areas have been identified for KangarooIsland. These are the Gosse Plateau and the South Coast.

Large Remnant Areas


The sooty dunnart(Sminthopsis aitkeni) has beenmost consistently caught onthe Gosse Plateau.

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Threats

• Feeding competition and habitat modification from introduced animals including: feral goats (Capra hircus) feraldeer (Cervidae Family) and feral pigs (Sus scrofa)

• Increased weed invasion from the eastern areas of the island

• Some native animals are perceived to be in large enough numbers to adversely impact on biodiversity

• Phytophthora and

• Mundulla Yellows.

Priority Projects

1. Eradication of feral goats, pigs and deer

2. Control of introduced and Kangaroo Island native animals where they are impacting on native biodiversity

3. Continuation of Phytophthora management program

4. Re-establishment and restoration of native vegetation tolink areas of native vegetation

5. Cleared and modified areas between Flinders Chase NP andKelly Hill CP to be rehabilitated

6. Cleared and modified areas of the South Coast betweenCape Gantheaume CP and Pelican Lagoon to berehabilitated. This area contains a number of patches ofregionally threatened plant communities

7. Restoration and re-establishment of native vegetation in the cleared and modified areas around Cape Hart CP

8. Establishment of vegetation monitoring sites with particularemphasis on exclosures (particularly for feral goats), longterm effects of Phytophthora, the distribution and spread ofMundulla Yellows, fire monitoring and monitoring thewestward migration of weeds.


Fragmented Habitat Areas

Fragmented Habitat Areas still have some large blocks of nativevegetation, but these are usually separated by areas ofagricultural land.

Fragmented Habitat Areas have been identified on the basis thatthey contain:

• a mixture of large blocks of native vegetation and large amounts of cleared land

• biodiversity in large remnants likely to approach that of pre-European settlement levels

• population sizes, for most species within these areas, are likely to be viable in the long term, given some effort torestore and re-establish native vegetation, especially throughproviding new corridors or buffering existing corridors.

Two Fragmented Habitat Areas have been identified forKangaroo Island. These are the Seddon Plateau and the NorthCoast.

Fragmented Habitat


Tate’s grass-tree(Xanthorrhoea semiplana ssp.tateana) as understorey in agum woodland.

Threats

• Fragmentation and isolation of habitats

• Phytophthora in parts of the fragmented habitat areas

• Degradation of habitats by feral pigs (Sus scrofa), particularly along rivers and drainage lines

• Degradation of habitats by feral goats (Capra hircus), particularly in coastal areas

• Weeds are beginning to take hold in some areas as they are brought in from the east along roadways

• Dieback of brown stringybark (Eucalyptus baxteri)

• Some native animals are perceived to be in numbers large enough to impact biodiversity

• Increased salinity is a threat, especially to the perched swamps of the Seddon Plateau.

Priority Projects

1. Research cause of dieback in brown stringybark (Eucalyptusbaxteri) across Kangaroo Island

2. Re-establishment and restoration of native vegetation to link areas of native vegetation including: buffering rivers,drainage lines, and road reserves to provide a moreeffective network of corridors across these FragmentedHabitat Areas

3. Areas in which salinity is becoming a problem and requires projects aimed at ameliorating this threat including therehabilitation and threat amelioration in perched swampsand other wetland areas

4. Eradication or control of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) along rivers and drainage lines

5. Eradication or control of feral goats (Capra hircus) incoastal areas

6. Control of introduced and native animals where they arefound to be adversely impacting on native biodiversity

7. Establishment of vegetation monitoring sites. Emphasis should be on monitoring the westward migration of weeds,fire monitoring, detecting any increased effects of salinity,and monitoring dieback of brown stringybark (Eucalyptusbaxteri), and exclosures for feral goats.

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Threatened Habitats

Threatened Habitat Areas on KangarooIsland

Threatened Habitat Areas could also be called ‘Highly FragmentedHabitat Areas’, and have been identified on the basis that theycontain:

• selectively cleared and modified habitat resulting in low remnancy of native vegetation, with very few large blocks ofnative vegetation

• biodiversity unlikely to approach pre-European settlement levels

• population sizes, for most species within these areas that are unlikely to be viable in the long term, without significanteffort to restore and re-establish native vegetation.

Generally, Threatened Habitat Areas contain a high proportion ofregionally threatened plant communities and a large proportionof the region’s nationally threatened plants.

Two Threatened Habitat Areas have been identified for KangarooIsland, these are the Central Plains and Dudley/Haines PlateauLandunits.


Threats

• Fragmentation and consequent isolation of habitats

• Weed invasion into remnant native vegetation

• Mundulla Yellows is a potential threat to remnant trees

• Some native animals are perceived to be in numbers large enough to impact biodiversity and

• Salinity.

Priority Projects

1. Re-establishment and restoration of native vegetation to establish more viable patches of regionally threatened plantcommunities. Priority areas include:

• any areas of Kangaroo Island narrow-leaf mallee(Eucalyptus cneorifolia) communities and areas ofregionally threatened coastal white mallee (Eucalyptusdiversifolia) communities

• strategic re-establishment in salinity affected catchments

• gum woodlands along the Cygnet River

• areas surrounding wetlands.

2. Control of major environmental weeds, especially in areas containing nationally threatened plants or regionallythreatened plant communities.

3. Eradication of environmental weeds with the potential tobe serious and widespread.

4. Control of introduced andKangaroo Island nativeanimals where they areimpacting on nativebiodiversity.

5. Establishment of vegetation monitoring sites. Emphasisshould be on exclosures(particularly for nativeanimals), regionallythreatened plant communities,monitoring the distribution ofweeds and monitoring thedistribution and spread ofMundulla Yellows. Landscape feature of Dudley Peninsula

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Biodiversity Plan – Achieving Action

The Biodiversity Plan is a guide for the community andgovernment agencies. It provides information on strategicaction to assist in maintaining the biodiversity for the future.Below are some examples of how you can help individually, as agroup or at a district level.

Individual Action

• Fence native vegetation and keep out the stock to allowregeneration

• Plant local native species around blocks of native vegetation to form a buffer and additional habitat

• Plant local native species next to road reserves with native vegetation, particularly where it links other nativevegetation blocks

• Plant local native species along drainage lines and dune crests

• Remove weeds from native vegetation

• Place area of habitat under a Sanctuary or Wildlife Refuge

• Place native vegetation areas under Heritage Agreement to gain financial help in managing the block

• Use local native trees and shrubs for shelter belts.

Group Action

• Look after a local native vegetation block or roadside nativevegetation through the Bushcare Program

• Help look after the local conservation park by joining a Friends Group

• Become involved and form a group with neighbours to gain funding to jointly fence native vegetation blocks, controlweeds and problem animals, or look after a local reserve, orconserve a threatened species

• Protect the coastline, remove weeds, revegetate blow outs, remove rubbish, join a Coastcare group.

District Action

• With the neighbours, control goats, deer and pigs.Coordinated control is effective

• Coordinate replanting with native plants to minimise the salinity and rising water table in the local catchment area

• Plant corridors linking areas of native vegetation in adjacent areas.

5 spp trees10 spp large shrubs30 spp small shrubs

60 spp tiny plants(grasses, moss, etc)

2 spp large mammals6 spp birds

30 spp reptiles

10 000 kinds of insects

Ann Prescott

100 000 kinds of bacteria and fungi

Hypothetical NativeVegetation Block


Biodiversity Project – Example

Action on Kangaroo Island may relate to a particular area ortheme. Below is an example of a Biodiversity project which couldbe implemented on Kangaroo Island.

Rehabilitation of Mallee Communities in the MacGillivrayHills

Of the mallee communities that occur on Kangaroo Island, malleedominated by Kangaroo Island narrow-leaf mallee (Eucalyptuscneorifolia) and sessile-fruit white mallee (Eucalyptus ‘anceps’) isamong the most threatened. This community occurs near thelower Cygnet River and in the MacGillivray Hills. Vegetationclearance in this area has been extensive leaving very fewexamples of this plant community. Remaining examples areprimarily restricted to roadsides, with some reservation in smallparts of Beyeria CP and two Heritage Agreements.The understorey is often dominated by slender honey-myrtle(Melaleuca gibbosa), scarlet bottlebrush (Callistemon rugulosus)and black bristle-rush (Chorizandra enodis). The communityprovides important habitat for the endemic and nationallythreatened plant species small flower daisy-bush (Oleariamicrodisca) and MacGillivray spyridium (Spyridium eriocephalumvar. glabrisepalum).

Actions

• Targeted weed control in roadside vegetation and private remnants, particularly for bridal creeper (Myrsiphyllumasparagoides), starting in areas where threatened plantpopulations occur

• Establishment of roadside markers to raise awareness and help protect significant patches of roadside vegetation

• Ongoing monitoring of roadside populations of threatened plants

• Buffering remnant vegetation on private property to reduce weed invasion and edge effects such as spray drift.

Biodiversity Outcomes

• Secure the future of nationally threatened plant species

• Control the spread and reduce the impacts of weed invasion

• Raise general awareness of the importance of roadside vegetation in this area.

Slender honey-myrtle(Melaleuca gibbosa)

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Information and Contacts

A detailed version of the Biodiversity Plan for Kangaroo Island is available at:

• Government District Offices:-National Parks and Wildlife Office, Kingscote Primary Industries and Resources, Kingscote

• District Council Office of Kangaroo Island

• State Library of South Australia

• Local libraries and schools

• The Environment Shop, 77 Grenfell Street, Adelaide, 8204 1910

There are a number of government and non-government agencies and peoplelocated in the region who can assist the community in implementing the Plan.

DEH - Department for Environment and Heritage

(Bush Management, Vegetation Mapping, Environmental Management, BiodiversityPlanning, Wetlands Management, National Parks & Wildlife, Waterwatch co-ordination,Coastcare, Heritage Agreement Scheme)

PIRSA - Primary Industries Resources South Australia

(Natural Heritage Trust Co-ordination, Revegetation Management, Property managementPlanning, Animal and Plant Control Commission)

Location Organisations Telephone

Kangaroo Island

Coastcare 8405 6833

NPWSA 8553 2381

District Council of Kangaroo Island 8553 2015

PIRSA 8553 2222

Adelaide

DEH 8204 8888

PIRSA 8303 9500

Greening Australia (revegetation) 8372 0120

Native Vegetation Council (clearance of native vegetation) 8204 8862

State Tree Centre (revegetation) 8207 8767

Transport SA (roadside marker scheme) 8343 2281

Nature Conservation Society of South Australia 8372 0191

summary biodiversity plan - request licencing … · 2015-05-14 · biodiversity plan for kangaroo...

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